Dalton Risner gives the Bengals a simple request that should be a slam dunk for them to accomplish

 Posted January 7, 2026×

Dalton Risner originally signed with the Cincinnati Bengals just two weeks before the 2025 regular season began. He would like to sign his next contract with the team before the 2026 league year begins.

Risner told reporters Monday he wants to stay in Cincinnati this year, and for a contract extension to happen as soon as possible.

“I would personally like to not hit free agency,” Risner said. “I’ve said that I don’t want to get to that mess of getting other teams involved. I’d love to just let it be a thing between me and the Bengals. I hope they call me later today. Hope they call me tomorrow.

“It’s one of those things for me where I just got to sit and be patient and let my agent do the work that my agent does. And if they want me here, I want to be here.”

Dalton Risner makes it crystal clear he wants to stay with Bengals

Forget free agency. Risner doesn’t want to mess with all of that. He wants to get this done now.

Cincinnati could’ve extended Risner’s one-year contract before the season even ended, and it would’ve made total sense. Now that the offseason has arrived, retaining the 30-year old has become a priority.

Risner became a perfect fit as the Bengals’ starting right guard for the final seven games of the season. He was one of the very best pass-protecting guards in the game during that stretch, allowing just nine pressures despite pass-blocking for 297 snaps.

The offensive line thrived with him, and he thrived with the unit.

“This is where I want to be,” Risner said. “Unfortunately, I feel like there’s a business aspect to it, but at the end of the day, I love this coaching staff. My offensive line coach, Scott Peters, [assistant offensive line coach] Mike McCarthy. I want to play next to [right tackle] Amarius Mims and [center] Ted Karras, because who wouldn’t? I want to play for [head coach] Zac Taylor. I want to play for [offensive coordinator] Dan Pitcher.

“I want to I want to play for this organization. I want to be a Cincinnati Bengal.”

“This is where I want to be. I want to play for this organization. I want to be a Cincinnati Bengal.”

Dalton Risner says he doesn’t want to get to free agency. He wants to play another season in Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/4gbLzp53WQ

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) January 5, 2026

Risner isn’t the only one in the locker room who feels this way.

Amarius Mims calls for Bengals to keep Risner

Playing alongside Risner for those seven games was Mims, Cincinnati’s first-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. Mims took to Twitter/X Monday afternoon to support Risner coming back for 2026.

Mims had a dominant end of 2025 in his own right, allowing just 10 pressures on 277 pass-blocking snaps with Risner flanking his left side.

Risner and Mims became a rock-solid duo when the Bengals needed them. It makes all the sense in the world to keep that tandem together for at least another year.